SGU in Ethiopia on mining and environmental issues

African mining authorities and stakeholders recently gathered on SGU’s initiative in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss change projects that have been developed in order to improve environmental protection in mining activities.

The change projects are the results of an international exchange programme between SGU and several African authorities in the international training programme ITP 308 Mine Water and Mine Waste Management, which is sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). Governmental officials from Zambia, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya participated in this round of the programme. The change projects are currently being implemented in their respective institutions in order to improve environmental protection and increase sustainability within the mining industry.

The initial ideas for the change projects were developed by the participating governmental officials and based on identified needs. In the autumn of 2018, the projects were further developed during a three-week intensive course in Malå, consisted of expert-led lectures and field trips. Over the ensuing ten months, the participants returned to their home countries to work on their change projects, supported by mentors from SGU (Geological Survey of Sweden). The change projects focused largely on establishing good routines for mine inspections and developing guidelines and action plans for different mining activities.

List of change projects:

Environmental Framework for Mine Site Closure (Kenya)

Guidelines for Mine Water and Tailings Management for Small and Medium Scale Mines (Tanzania)

During the conference in Addis Ababa, the change projects were presented to a broad audience interested in mining and related environmental issues. The conference was the first in a series of ten which will take place in different African countries over the next five years.